Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I appeal to our worthy opponents to exercise a little caution. All will be revealed. As they will be aware, nothing has been agreed yet.

In regard to the Holy See, the Leader has agreed to invite the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to the House in due course. It is not helpful to speak about the closure of the embassy. Even though he is non-resident, our ambassador, David Cooney, is an eminent and senior figure. I am sure he will be using that building on his frequent visits to Rome to work the diplomacy that is afoot. We also have a new apostolic nuncio, the eminent and able Monsignor Brown, who I congratulate and welcome. He is also fluent in English. I do not suggest there were many misunderstandings in the past but this augurs well for the future. I have no doubt that if the Holy See agreed to Ireland, as a small country in economic difficulties, accommodating a separate ambassador in the Italian embassy -----